Why Meg Lanning is the Undisputed GOAT of Women’s Cricket?
In recent years, women’s cricket has come a long way and made its mark in global sports. Women’s cricket is only going to reach new heights with more and more talented players emerging from all over the world.
However, when it comes to the greatest women’s cricketer of all time, there is one name that comes to my mind — Meg Lanning.
If you’re a fan of women’s cricket, then you’re likely already familiar with the name Meg Lanning. This Australian cricketing superstar has been setting records and breaking barriers for years now, and many people believe that she is the greatest women’s cricketer of all time — or, as they say in sports lingo, the GOAT.
In this blog, I will explore the reasons why Meg Lanning is the greatest women’s cricketer of all time.
Excellent batter
First of all, let’s talk about her accomplishments on the field.
Meg Lanning — the captain of the Australia team — has been impressive with the bat. Till now, she has scored over 8,000 runs in international cricket across all formats, including 17 centuries and 38 half-centuries.
Her ability to perform consistently under pressure is truly remarkable, and she has broken numerous records throughout her career.
Meg has scored 4,602 runs in women’s ODIs in 103 matches with an average of 53.51, which is the highest among active women cricketers.
If Lanning’s record is compared with other great women cricketers like Charlotte Edwards and Mithali Raj, there is no doubt that Lanning stands out as the best.
England’s Charlotte Edwards, in a career spanning over 19 years, scored 5,992 runs in 191 matches with an average of 38.16. While Mithali Raj, who retired last year after playing for over 23 years, is the highest run-getter in ODIs with 7,805 runs in 232 matches with an average of 50.68.
Meg has achieved more in a shorter time — made her international debut in 2010 in a T20I match — than any other player. And her records speak for themselves.
Currently, she holds the record for most women’s ODI hundreds (15). And in 2022, she became the third-fastest woman to reach 3,000 T20I runs.
Brilliant leader
Meg Lanning is not just a magnificent batter; she is also a brilliant leader. She was handed over the captaincy of the Australian team in 2014. And since then, Australia has went on to win 4 Women’s T20I World Cups (2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), 1 Women’s ODI World Cup (2022), and a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal (2022).
What is more astounding is that she led her team to three championship wins in just one year — the ODI World Cup and Commonwealth Games in 2022, and the T20I World Cup in 2023. Talk about dominance, and how!
Her leadership skills were on display during the recently concluded WPL in India. The way she leads her team from the front is just excellent.
In the WPL final between the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, she ensured that her team didn’t give up easily while defending the score of 131. She made sure that the opponents didn’t win it easily by keeping pressure on them using her tactics.
Lanning’s leadership skills and ability to motivate her team to victory are second to none. And her success as a captain is a testament to her incredible talent and dedication to the sport.
Impact on Women’s Cricket
Perhaps the most important reason why Meg Lanning is the greatest women’s cricketer is the impact she has had on the sport as a whole.
Lanning has been a pioneer for women’s cricket, breaking down barriers and proving that women’s cricket can be just as exciting and competitive as men’s cricket.
Her success has inspired countless young girls to take up the sport and has helped to raise the profile of women’s cricket around the world. Without a doubt, Meg Lanning’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of women cricketers for many years to come.
Conclusion
When we look at Meg Lanning’s major achievements in international cricket, it is clear that she is in a league of her own.
Her incredible batting record, leadership skills, major achievements, and impact on women’s cricket make her the greatest women’s cricketer of all time.
As women’s cricket continues to grow and evolve, we can only hope that more players like Meg Lanning will emerge and take the sport to even greater heights.
